Support Bill C-218. No MAiD for Mental Illness.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director,
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

On June 25 I reported that on June 20, 2025, Tamara Jansen (MP - Cloverdale - Langley City) introduced private members Bill C-218 in the House of Commons to prevent euthanasia (MAiD) for mental illness by excluding mental illness from being defined as a "grievous and irremediable medical condition" for the purposes of MAiD. Bill C-218 will prevent MAID for mental illness alone.

Sign the petition in support of Bill C-218 (Link).

When the Canadian government expanded the euthanasia law in March 2021 by passing Bill C-7, one of the expansions in the law permitted euthanasia for a mental illness alone. At that time the government approved euthanasia for mental illness alone with a two-year moratorium to give time to prepare.

After two delays, last year the government further delayed the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness alone until March 17, 2027

On July 9, A media conference was held by MP's Tamara Jansen and Andrew Lawton in support of Bill C-218. The MP's were joined by Graydon Nicholas (former Judge, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick and First Nations Advocate) and Alicia Duncan, whose mother died by euthanasia (MAiD) after experiencing a brain injury from a car accident.

Jen Hodgson reported for the Western Standard on July 10 that:

Conservative MPs Tamara Jansen (Cloverdale-Langley City, BC) and Andrew Lawton (Elgin-St. Thomas-London South, ON) have reintroduced Bill C-218, which would amend the Criminal Code to prevent mental illness from qualifying as the sole criterion for medical assistance in dying (MAiD).

Andrew Lawton MP

Hodgson reported what Andrew Lawton said at the press conference:

Lawton, speaking at a press conference Wednesday, said he is a suicide survivor, having attempted to kill himself in 2010 after a battle with his mental health. He said if MAiD had been an option back then, he might have been tempted to accept it.

“C-18 will save lives,” said Lawton.

“Fifteen years ago, I very nearly succeeded in ending my life to suicide,” he said, explaining this was the culmination of a years-long battle with mental illness.

Article: Suicide is a symptom of mental illness - not a cure for it (Link).

Hodgson further reported what Lawton said:

“People who went through what I went through 15 years ago believe that their life would get better,” said Lawton.

“I never would have believed (then) that I would be standing here today as a member of Parliament, as a husband, as someone that has a life I am so happy with.”

“And that’s only because I had the care and support I needed to go through what I did and come out the other side.”

“The message that I share with anyone struggling with mental illness is that I got better.”

“There is hope.”

“The people struggling have a right to recovery.”

“I am not convinced that I would be here today if MAiD were available 15 years ago for people with mental illness.”

For Bill C-218 to be successful, we will need stories from Canadians who have lived with, (or currently live with) mental health concerns and who may have died by euthanasia (MAiD) if it had been available at that time. Contact us with your story at: info@epcc.ca

Hodgson interviewed Lawton on July 10. Hodgson reported:

“I think we need to put a human face on this. This isn't just an abstract thing. This is something that affects very real people and very real stories that are not just my own, but shared by millions of Canadians and their families,” Lawton told the Western Standard Thursday.

Lawton said the bill has been slotted in for debate and a second reading in the fall parliamentary session, and they are estimating that it will take place in November or December.

He added he is hoping for a cross-party appeal, which means MPs can vote with their convictions rather than based on party lines.

“So I'm hoping we can build off of that and get some more support from Liberal members of parliament so that we can just pass this. This is too important to be a partisan issue,” said Lawton.

Sign the petition in support of Bill C-218 (Link).

Alicia Duncan

Alicia Duncan told the story of how her mother died by MAiD in 2021. Malin Jordon reporting for the Cloverdale-Langley Reporter wrote:

Alicia Duncan said her mother Donna was suffering from mental health issues in Abbotsford in 2021.

She had been in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.

She called the laws surrounding MAID “poorly legislated” and said her mother struggled for 20 months to get help that would have made difference in her life.

Duncan found out two days ahead of time that her mother was scheduled to go in for medical-assisted suicide.

“My sister and I—knowing that she had no terminal diagnosis, no diagnosis other than depression—(knew) something was very wrong,” Duncan said. “We believed that we could stop this because surely the law would protect someone like my mom in a mental health crisis.”

Alicia Duncan said that:

 “I am terrified of what will happen in March 2027 if we allow this to expand for people that do have a mental health condition.”

Canada has currently approved that euthanasia for mental illness will begin in March 2027. 

 

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative party tweeted support for Bill C-218 by stating:

MP Tamara Jansen’s The Right to Recover Act will save countless lives. It says that mental illness is not sufficient grounds for Medical Assistance in Dying. Thanks to MP @AndrewLawton for courageously sharing his story. 

Our loved ones suffering with their mental health deserve support, not assisted death from the government. Recovery is possible. We will not give up on them.

Bill C-218 will require support from many Liberal MP's in order to pass. Lawton is absolutely correct to say that real stories are needed.